12/11/2025
Whoever teaches learns in the act of teaching, and whoever learns teaches in the act of learning.” — Paulo Freire
This quote perfectly reflects what I witnessed today. In our classroom, learning is truly mutual. Students and professors learn from one another, enriched by the diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives each person brings.
I am deeply proud of my undergraduate students in the School of Education at Queens College and the level of confidence, critical thinking, and academic depth they demonstrated in their final critical analysis presentations.
They explored powerful and timely educational issues including school violence and delinquency, the shortage of male teachers, lack of extracurricular activities, adolescent substance abuse, teacher burnout, book banning, class size, the negative impact of technology on social withdrawal, obesity and mental health, poverty and student success, public education and religious beliefs, sleep deprivation and mental health, and the pressure on young students to choose careers before they are truly ready. What impressed me most was their ability to connect these challenges to meaningful solutions, instructional implications, and the theoretical and philosophical foundations we studied throughout the semester.
Their consistent attendance, motivation, and willingness to share diverse perspectives created a learning environment where everyone grew together. We ended the semester with a joyful multicultural celebration, sharing food from different cultural backgrounds to honor diversity, community, and connection.
So proud of every single one of my students, our future educators. I wish them all the best and look forward to seeing the great educators they will become. 💙🎓